The hunting of shark fins increased throughout the decade due to increased demand for shark fins for shark fin soup and traditional Chinese medicines. Shark specialists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature claim that shark fin hunting has widened and expanded rapidly, especially as shark fin trade is not regulated, making it a serious problem for shark populations in the world. [2] It is estimated that shark fin trade each year is worth between US $ 540 million [1] to US $ 1.2 billion. Shark fins are one of the most expensive marine caterers in the world, valued at about US $ 400 per kg.

Almost every fin is a target of shark fin hunting, including dorsal fins, pectoral fins, pelvic fins, anal fins, and caudal fin. Shark fin hunting activities cut the sharks when sharks are still in the water. Other body parts of sharks do not have a high selling value compared to their fins, and their mass is large enough that the shark's body will be thrown back into the sea, often alive. Fishermen will not take shark meat to provide more space on board for other shark fins.

Opinion that says that sharks have many benefits and efficacy for the health of the body seems just a myth. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted a number of studies on sharks and found the fact that sharks are one type of fish that is not recommended for consumption because of the high levels of mercury and other heavy metals contained therein. Even some species of shark, mercury content is very high. Therefore sharks are not suitable for hunting and consumed fins.